Anchor pile



V. F. BUSH ANCHOR PILE Dec. 12, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 21, 1957 INVENTOR. VERA/K605 BY MM ATTORNEYS title? Dec. 12, 1961 v. F. BUSH 3,012,644

ANCHOR PILE Filed Nov. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

VERA/[805,4

BY www ATTORNEYS United States Patent Q 3,012,544 ANCHQR PILE Vern F. Bush, 7% Howard Ave., Holland, Mich. Filed Nov. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 697,907 Claims. (Cl. 189- -92) This invention relates to a new and useful anchor pile of a general class of contrivances suitable for holding constructions above ground level in a stationary position.

Prior disclosures commonly referred to as fence posts or fence post sockets employ a scheme of laterally extending flukes pivotally connected to a vertical post, the flukes rendering the post immobile when driven into the ground,- These devices, once installed, are essentially permanent fixtures, thereby reducingtheir utility to a single installation. 7 In addition, their overall design and construction substantially limits their use to light anchoring applications.

Another more specialized group are the guy wire anchors. Usually much smaller in size than the fence post construction, they incorporate the same basic feature of anchoring flukes pivotally connected to a cylindrical body which is driven into the ground. Some units have a body whose exterior is provided with spirally arranged flanges forming screw threads whereby a screw-like effect is utilized to insert or remove the anchor from the ground. The removable feature necessitates a complex screw design, thereby limiting this feature to small units of the guy wire anchor variety.

The objects of this invention are to furnish anchor piles of simple design yet having sufiicient strength and durability to anchor objects of heavy construction and to provide a device which may be readily and quickly inserted into the ground. v

A further object is to provide a novel construction whereby the anchor pile is easily removed from the ground or made a permanent installation as dictated by the users plan.

The accompanying drawings exhibit the preferred embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the removable anchor pile with the fiukes in a collapsed position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the removable anchor pile with the fiukes extended laterally in anchored position and showing a partially sectioned portion of the lineattachment to the fluke.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned view of the fluke in collapsed position showing the line attachment adjacent to the opening in the side of the body.

FIG. 4-is a cross sectional view taken along the plane IV-lV of FIG. 1.

- FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the plane II-II ofFlG. 2. r

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the permanent anchor pile with the flukes in a collapsed position.

FIG. 7 is a side elevationalview of the permanent anchor pile with flukes-extended laterally in anchored position.

This invention constitutes a new and useful anchoring device or anchor pile suitable in heavy duty applications. Generally the anchor pile comprises a hollow body with openings in the side of the body and one end of the body conveniently shapedv or modified to facilitate its Patented Dec. 12, 1961 stantially below the pivot connection, and extending the controlling means attached to the fiukes through the.

openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside the hollow body, the body to be filled with a solidifying material which renders the controlling means immobile, thereby locking the flukes in a spread position.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a removable anchor pile comprising a hollow body 2, with openings 3 in the side of the body, and one end 4 conveniently shaped to facilitate its entry into the ground. Anchoring flukes 5 are connected to the body by a pin 6, the position of the fiukes 5 being controlled by lines 7 securely attached to the ends ofthe fiukes 8 and extend:

ing through the openings 3 in the sideof the body, and upwardly inside the hollow body. I

When a permanentanchor pine isdesired (FIGSQ'G and R 7), the openings 3a in the side of'the body are posi tioned substantially below the pivotal connection of the flukes 5a, and the line 7a extends upwardly inside the'hollow body through'the openings 3a to the ends 21a of the flukes to which the ends of the lines 7a are attached. The

body is filled with a solidifying material 10, such as cement, which renders the controlling means immobile, thereby locking the fluke 5a in a spread position.

In its preferredform the body consists of a hollow, substantially thick walled metal cylinder. 2, such as a pipe, having a pair of holes 3 drilled into opposite sides of the body. The diameter of the holes is determined by the diameter of the cable passing therethrough. A segment of the periphery of the hole which comes in contact with the line 7 while they are held in tension, is polished smooth and drawn away from the side of the body to provide a lip 11. One end of the body is welded and pinched to a point 4, thereby facilitating its entryinto the ground.

Just above the pointed end of the body are mounted the laterallyswinging anchoring flukes, each constructed of whereby an angle of 180 degrees is substantially formed when the fiukes are in a spread position. Attached to the inner surface of the arms are the eye-connectors 12 and spacers 13. The connectors 12 provide a means for securing the line 7 The arms have an arcuate shape conforming to the shape of the body 2. They terminate at the cars 20 located on each side of the body 2 and pivot ally connected thereto by the pin t5. Between the two cars in 'an 'arcuate cut out portion providing theedge 23 which serves as a stop to limit the downward pivotal movement of 'the'arms. The fluke arms are of a substantial length,

whosesidesconverge to a pointed end. These ends are equidistant from the centerline of the body. V

The spacers 13 space the tips or ends of the arms from the body 2 permitting the arms when collapsed to catch a in the dirt and be automatically extended.

' In the modification of FIGS.'5' and 6 the eye-connectors 12a are located on the outer side of the arms, the

spacers are eliminated and the openings 3a are locatedbelow the flukes. The line extends downwardly through the hollow body 2a, through Openings 3a, and upwardly to the connectors 12a to which they are attached.

The line 7 comprises a semi-flexible line, such as a.

steel cable, the ends of which are securely fastened to the eye attachments 12 of the anchoring flukes. The line 7 extends through the openings in the side of the body and up'wardlyinside the hollow body, whereby an exterior force can be applied to control the position of the flukes. Preferably a single continuous cable or wire having-a smooth outer surface used, forming a loop 711i which.

serves as a handle upon which force can be applied to control the position of the flukes.

Operation The prime advantage of this invention is the utilization of a simple and efficient release mechanism which makes it possible to construct heavy or light duty anchor piles which need not be permanent installations. The pile is set or anchored in the ground by driving it with any suitable means.

The anchoring flukes, shaped to fit the contours of a cylindrical body, and the sides of said fiukes converging to a point at the outer ends, easily cut through the earth in knife-like fashion. After reaching the desired depth the cable is released, and the body 2 withdrawn slightly upwardly. This causes the ends 13 of the flukes to dig into the earth and spread setting the pile firmly in the ground. To remove the pile, the body is driven deeper into the ground, thereby causing the laterally extended fiukes to collapse upward about the pivotal axis. Simultaneously, a pulling force is exerted on the exposed line which is attached to the duke ends, thereby effecting a substantially complete collapse of the anchoring fiukes about the sides of the body. Without further resistance from spread members the anchor pile is easily withdrawn from its embedded position. The uniqueness and simplicity of this removable feature is most clearly exhibited when the device is used in its preferred form.

The anchor pile can become a substantially permanent installation with only a slight modification. The controlling line, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is attached to the underside of the fluke 14, and extended through openings in the side of the body substantially below the pivot connection 6, said line extending upwardly inside the hollow body. Consequently, when the pile is driven into the ground, and subsequently withdrawn to spread the flukes, a simultaneous pulling force on the exposed controlling line will complement the movement of the fiukes to a spread position. While the line is held in tension, the hollow body is filled with a solidifying material 10, preferably concrete, thereby rendering the controlling line immobile, and the fiukes attached thereto, permanently spread in anchored position.

The simplicity of construction, and versatility of application offers a decided price advantage. The basic construction of a hollow body, laterally extending fiukes, and attached release mechanism can be easily modified to give a permanent or removable anchor pile. In addition, this type of construction is not limited to specialized light anchoring applications, but can be easily assembled to have sufficient strength and durability for the heavier type anchoring projects.

Although I have shown and disclosed preferred forms of this invention, alternatives and modifications are possible within the broadest aspect. Therefore, this invention shall be limited only as specifically set forth by the language of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow elongated body adapted to be driven into the ground; openings in the side of said body; anchoring flukes pivotally connected to the body and adapted to spread outwardly in anchoring position; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said fiukes are spread outwardly; means for collapsing said fiukes against the side of the body; said means extending through the openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said hollow body.

2. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow cylindrical pipe; openings in the sides of said pipe; anchoring flukes pivotally connected to the pipe and adapted to spread outwardly in anchoring position; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said pipe when said fiukes are spread outwardly; means for collapsing said fiukes against said body, said means extending through the openings in the side of the pipe and upwardly inside said cylindrical pipe.

3. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow elongated body adapted to be driven into the ground; a pair of openings on opposite sides of said body; a pair of anchoring fiukes pivotally connected to the body and adapted to spread outwardly in anchoring position; means for collapsing said fiukes against the side of the body; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said flukes are spread outwardly; said means extending through the openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said hollow body.

4. An anchor pile comprising: an elongated hollow body; openings in side of body; means at one end for permitting said body to be driven into the ground; anchoring fiukes pivotally connected to the body and shaped to fit the contour of the body when said flukes are collapsed and adjacent to its sides; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said flukes are spread outwardly; means for releasing the anchoring effect; said means extending through the openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said hollow body.

5. An anchor pile comprising: an elongated hollow body; openings in the side of said body; means at one end for permitting said body to be driven into the ground; anchoring fiukes having a pair of opposed ears each pivotally connected in diametrically opposed relationship to the sides of said body and adapted to spread outwardly to anchoring position; the sides of said flukes converging to a point opposite the end pivotally connected to the body; shoulders on said fiukes extending between said ears, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said fiukes are spread outwardly; means for collapsing the flukes against said body; said means extending through the openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said hollow body.

6. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow elongated body; openings in the side of said body; one end of said body being pointed for permitting said body to be driven into the ground; anchoring flukes pivotally connected to thebody; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said fiukes are spread outwardly; and a line means attached substantially to the free ends of each fluke and extending through said openings and upwardly inside said hollow body.

7. The anchor pile of claim 6 in which said openings are adjacent to the free ends of the flukes when said flukes are in a collapsed position.

8. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow body filled with a cementitious solidified material; openings in the side of said body; one end of said body being pointed for permitting said body to be driven into the ground; anchoring flukes pivotally connected to the body and adapted to be spread outwardly; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said fiukes are spread outwardly; means for permanently establishing an anchoring effect; line means attached to the ends of said flukes, extending through openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said body; said openings positioned substantially beneath the pivotally connected flukes.

9. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow body filled with concrete; openings in side of body; one end of said body being pointed for permitting said body to be driven into the ground; anchoring flukes pivotally connected to the body, and extending laterally in opposite directions to form substantially an angle of degrees; shoulders on said flukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said flukes forming substantially an angle of 180 degrees; the sides of said fiukes converging to free end points equidistant from the centerline of the body; a line attached to each anchoring fluke extending through openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said body, said openings positioned substantially beneath the pivotally connected flukes, and said line rendered immobile by the solidified core.

10. An anchor pile comprising: a hollow cylindrical pipe adapted to be filled with a cementitious material; openings in the side of pipe positioned in the section of said pipe to be driven below the ground surface; one end of said body being pointed for permitting said pipe to be driven into the ground; anchoring fiukes pivotally connected to the body, and extending laterally in opposite directions to form substantially an angle of 180 degrees; shoulders on said fiukes, said shoulders binding against the sides of said body when said flukes are spread outwardly; the sides of said flukes converging to free end points equidistant from the centerline of the body; a line attached to each anchoring fluke extending through openings in the side of the body and upwardly inside said hollow body; said openings substantially beneath the anchoring fiukes when said flukes are in a collapsed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

